Garment press apparatus



Jan. 23, 1968 v. R. CARPENTER ET AL. 3,365,107

GARMENT PRESS APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet l I 1 l I l l l l l l vl 1 l l INVENTORS w26/A P. Carpa/raz .7a/w55 E. Jaw/1416s irmvmsy:

ll( Il -V \1 l TF-m4 W m Jarh 23, 1968 I v. R. CARPENTER ET Al- 3,365,107

GARMENT PRES S APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 196e -3 sheets-sheet 2 Fri@ F12-CEE Jan. 23, 1968 V, R CARPENTER ET AL 3,365,107

GARMENT PRESS APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1966 s sheds-sheet s United States Patent O 3,365,107 GARMENT PRESS APPARATUS Virgil R. Carpenter, Roseville, and James E. Jennings,

Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to The Unipress Company, Incorporated, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Feb. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 530,053 12 Claims. (Cl. 223-73) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Pressing apparatus for garments such as pants that includes a vertically elongated stationary presser head that in horizontal cross-section is generally triangular except for arcuately curved portions that are shaped to in part form a close fit with the tubular post of a buck assembly on which the garment is dressed and a pair of presser heads movable by a piston cylinder combination. The buck assembly also includes a pair of expandable wings. A stationary presser head has a metal wall portion adjacent each movable presser head, each metal wall portion having a recess on each side of the arcuately curved portions at an elevation that the cuffs of pants are located when the buck assembly is in a garment pressing position, there being a resilient pad in each recess. The metal wall portion and resilient pad in a relaxed condition conjunctively have a smooth, continuous pressing surface for pressingly engaging the garment.

This invention relates to new and novel press apparatus for receiving tubular portions of a garment dressed on appropriate shaped buck assemblies and pressing such tubular portions. More particularly this invention realtes to new and novel press apparatus having resilient pads in the area of the cuff portions of a garment that is to be pressed and the structure mounting such pads.

In pressing garments such as pants wherein the legs thereof extend around buck assemblies having relatively thin wings, in order to obtain sharp creases adjacent the creases to be formed, it is desirable to have the adjacent surfaces of a buck Wing and presser head of metal. However, due to multiple thicknesses in the area of culfs, it has been found provision has to be made for the yieldability of the pressing structure in the areas of the cuffs that are adjacent the creases. In order to accomplish the above together with providing structure for mounting resilient pads to be adjacent said areas during the pressing operation so that the pads will remain in a mounted condition for relative long usage, this invention has been made.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide new and novel presser head apparatus for pressing tubular portions of a garment that are dressed on buck assemblies having relatively thin wings in order to obtain a sharp crease in the garment. A further object of this invention is to provide in presser head apparatus, new and novel resilient pads and structure mounting the pads on a presser head so that the pads will not relatively easily become dislodged through use.

The invention is illustrated with reference to the drawings in which corresponding numerals refer to the same parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a presser head portion of a garment pressing machine with the presser heads in a pressing condition, said view being taken at an elevation just above the presser heads and showing buck assemblies in cross section in a wing expanded condition;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the central, stationary presser head; said view generally being taken along the 3,365,107 Patented Jan. 23, 1968 line and in the direction of arrows 2 2 of FIGURES 1 and 4 and showing a fragmentary portion of the combination cylinder-presser arm mounting member;

FIGURE 3 is a back elevational view of the central stationary presser head, said view being generally taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 3 3 of FIGURE 2 other than the combination cylinder-presser arm mounting member is not shown;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom View of the stationary, central presser head, said view being generally taken along the line and in the direction-of arrows 4 4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view generally taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 5 5 of FIGURE 2 to more clearly show the structure of the stationary presser head and resilient pads, and the mounting of pads on said presser head;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse, fragmentary vertical cross sectional view showing adjacent portions of a movable and a stationary presser head in a pressing condition with a retractable wing and garment tubular portions therebetween. The thicknesses of the wing and garment is exaggerated in order to more clearly show the same and accordingly the deformation of the resilient pads is exaggerated. Further, as to the stationary presser head portion illustrated, this view is generally taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 6 6 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical elevational view of a resilient pad, said view being generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 7 7 of FIG- URE 5 to more clearly show the recessed portions and the spacing of the protrusions of the pad.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a garment press frame, generally designated 10, having front and central bottom members 11 and 12 respectively, that eX- tend horizontally and are vertically spaced from the floor. A leg 13 of the central, stationary presser head, generally designated i5, is bolted to frame member 11 at 16. Presser head 15 is vertically elongated and includes rearwardly extending legs 17 that are bolted to central frame member 12 at 18. The stationary presser head has a rounded apex portion 2t), and metal side walls 21, 22 integrally joined to portion 26. The side walls 21, Z2 respectively have generally planar pressing surface portions 21a, 22a that are joined to portion 20; and in a rearward direction therefrom, diverge from the central longitudinal axis L L. Thence side walls 21, 22 respectively are arcuately curved at 2lb, 22b to extend inwardly toward axis L L in a rearward direction, then joined to the partial circular portions 21C, 22C which rst converge toward axis L L and thence diverge therefrom. Portions 21C, 22C are respectively joined to arcuate portions 21a', 22d which are oppositely curved from portions 2lb, 2211. respectively, portions 21d, 22d then respectively being joined to generally planar portions 21e, 22e that are substantially located in the same plane as the corresponding side wall portion 21a, 22b. Thus the side Walls 21, 22 are symmetrical relative axis L L. Accordingly, in plan View (see FIGURE l) and also in horizontal cross section, the stationary presser head 15 is of a generally triangular shape, other than for the provision of the recessed side wall portions 2lb, 21C, 21d and 22b, 22C, 22d. Additionally, side walls 21, 22 are both of a greater longitudinal length at the top than the bottom as shown in FIGURE 2. The back Wall 27 of the presser head 15 extends between the side Walls and is joined thereto, wall 27 having bosses formed thereon for mounting the combination cylinder-presser arm mounting member 28 which is bolted thereto by bolts 29.

The combination member 28 has transversely extending, oppositely disposed pair of ears, each pair mounting a pivot member 31. One pivot member is pivotally connected to the central portion of the presser arm 32 while the other pivot member is pivotally connected to the central portion of the pivot arm 33. The presser head arms 32, 33 at their one ends respectively mount movable presser heads 35, 36. Hemispherical bearings 34, springs 37, and bolts 3S are provided for mounting presser heads 35, 36 on the arms to permit the respective presser head moving relative its presser head arm a limited amount in any direction about bearing 36 to permit alignment of the presser head with the stationary presser head during the pressing operation. The manner of mounting the movable presser heads on the presser head arms is the same as that described in greater detail in US. Patent 3,070,268, granted Dec. 16, 1962, and therefore will not be further described herein.

The ends of links 40 (one being shown) are pivotally connected to the adjacent end of the presser head arm 32 by a pivot member 41 while the one end of links 42 are pivotally connected to corresponding end of the presser head arm 33 by a pivot member 43. The opposite ends of links 40, 4Z are pivotally connected to one end of a piston rod 45 by a pivot member 46. The piston rod extends into the cylinder bore 47 formed in the combination cylinder-presser arm mounting member 28. The piston rod has a piston (not shown) located in the bore. A line 49 opens to the end of the cylinder bore adjacent presser head in order to supply fluid under pressure to the cylinder bore whereby the piston rod is moved to the extended position of FIGURE l; there being provided a strong coil spring 52 having one end connected lto pivot member 46 and an opposite end connected to mounting member 28 for returning the piston rod to a retracted condition upon exhausting fluid under pressure from the cylinder bore.

Presser head has a wall providing generally planar pressing surface portion 35a about the same size and shape as surface portion 21a, a generally planar surface portion 35e about the same size and shape as portion 21e and which is located in substantially the same plane as portion 35a, and partial circular portion 35e` and arcuate portions 35b, 35d that are 0f the same size but oppositely curved from portions 21C, 2lb, 21d respectively. Likewise presser head 36 has a wall providing a generally planar surface portions 36a, 36e, partial circular portion 36C and arcuately curved portions 36h, 36d that have a corresponding relationship to side wall portions 22a, 22e, 22C, 22h, 22d as the aforementioned surface portions of presser head 35 to other side wall portions of wall 21, other than for being oppositely faced.

In order to retain tubular portions of garment such as pants legs of a pair of pants in a position tol be pressed, and properly condition the pants legs for pressing, there are provided a pair of buck assemblies generally designated 50. Each buck assembly includes a vertically elongated, central tubular post 51, padding 52 extended around the post, a first retractable wing 53, and a second retractable wing 54. Each of the wings is generally vertically elongated, and the wings are on diametrically opposite sides of the post. Each of the wings 53, 54 is made of relatively thin metal and is mounted for retractable and expandable movement relative the post by structure not shown, and which does not form a part of this invention. However, the structure of the buck assemblies is described in detail in our co-pending application, Ser. No. 455,181, filed May 12, 1965, now U.S. Patent 3,272,408, granted Sept. 13, 1966, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The stationary presser head at its lower end portion has four vertically elongated, recessed portions, there being a recessed portion 60 formed in side wall portions 21d, 21e; a recessed portion 61 formed in side wall portions 21a, 21d; a recessed portion 62 formed in side wall portions 22a, 22]); and a recessed portion 63 formed in side wall portions 22d, 22e. Each recessed portion has a generally planar surface that intersects the curved pressing surface portion that curves inwardly toward circular portions 210, 22e respectively; and an inclined surface portion that forms an acute angle with the rst mentioned planar surface to open in a downward direction. For eX- ampie, referring to FIGURE 6, the planar surface 63b of recess 63 intersects inclined surface 63a along a horizontal line to form an acute angle opening downwardly. In the recesses 60-63, there is respectively mounted a resilient pad 66-69. Pads 66 and 69 are of a similar size and shape other than one is a left hand pad and the other is a right hand pad; while likewise pads 67 and 68 are of similar size and shape other than for one being a left hand pad and the other being a right hand pad. Further each of the pads is of size and shape to have an outer pressing surface that forms a smooth downward continuation of the adjacent metal pressing surface of the stationary presser head. For example, in a relaxed condition the outer surface of the pad 69 forms a smooth downward continuation of the metal pressing surface portions 22e, 22d.

Since these pads are of generally the same construction other than for being of a size and shape necessary to fill their respective recess, only pad 69 will be described in detail. Pad 69 includes a wall 69a having a smooth outer pressing surface that in vertical and horizontal cross section forms a smooth continuation of surface 22d and thence extends in the same plane as the pressing surface of wall portion 22e, wall 69a having an edge 69g that abuts against surface portion 63h adjacent its intersection with metal surface 22d. Horizontally opposite edge 69g a flange 69h is formed integral with the wall 69a to extend inwardly to abut against planar surface 63b adjacent its generally vertical intersection with pressing surface 22d. Likewise, a bottom horizontal extending flange 69d is integrally joined to wall 69a, and at one end to the ange 69b. A third flange 69e is joined to wall 69a to extend upwardly at an inclined angle with its outer surface lying in abutting engagement with presser head surface 63a and has an edge surface in abutting engagement with presser head surface 63]; as shown in FIGURE 6. A plurality of cylindrical protrusions 69f are integrally joined to wall 69a at the surface opposite its pressing surface to extend toward the planar surface 63b to abut thereagainst. As may be noted in part from FIGURES 6 and 7, the protrusions are spaced from one another to form voids within the chamber surrounded by wall 69a, flanges 6911, 69e and 69d, and surface 631i. These voids are provided to permit deformation of the pad in a direction toward surface 63h, the resilient pad preferably being rubber which is substantially non-compressible. The surfaces of flanges 69d, 69h, 69e, edge 69g and protrusions 69jc are glued or suitably sealed to surface portion 63h as well as adjacent surfaces 63a, 69e being affixed to one another.

As may be noted from FIGURE 2, the pads extend upwardly from the bottom of presser head 15 to relatively substantial heights, the reason being that in using the presser head apparatus of this invention with different length pants, the cuffs of different pants will be at different vertical elevations.

Other than for pads 60-63, the portions of presser heads 15, 35 and 36 providing the pressing surfaces for the tubular portions of the garment to be pressed are of relatively thick metal. Further the aforementioned portions having planar pressing surfaces that constitute portions of the presser heads are located relative to one another and are of horizontal dimensions in the planes of the pressing surfaces that horizontally opposite, generally vertically extending edges of the 'wings 53, 54 for each buck assembly in an extended condition are between planar surfaces of a movable presser head and the respective adjacent planar pressing surface of the stationary presser head even though various sized garments such as pants are pressed by the apparatus of this invention.

Each of the movable presser heads has an enclosed steam chamber with steam lines and condensate return lines, not shown, opening thereto. Also the central presser head 15 has a steam chamber 15a that in part is enclosed by the rear Wall 27 and a steam chamber 15b on the opposite side of the neck providing surfaces 21e, 22e from chamber 15a. Suitable steam and condensate return lines are provided to open to chambers a, 15d, only steam lines 15e that open in chamber 15a, 15b being shown.

The structure of the invention having been described, the use thereof will now be set forth. In a non-pressing condition the piston rod 45 is retracted such that the pivot member 46 is closely adjacent the mounting member 28. At this time the movable presser heads 35, 36 are positioned as partially illustrated in the dotted line in FIG- URE l wherein they are spread apart from one another and form the stationary presser head 15. Further, at this time the buck assemblies are retained horizontally forwardly of the presser heads through suitable mechanism that does not form a part of this invention and which is not shown to facilitate dressing pants on the buck assemblies such that one buck assembly extends into each leg of the pants. At this time, through suitable mechanism, the wings are expanded to tension the pants legs and thence the buck assemblies are moved through suitable mechanism (not shown) to a position that one post 5l is adjacent surface 22e and the other adjacent surface 21e. Now through suitable controls (not shown) fluid under pressure is passed into the cylinder bore whereupon piston rod 4S is moved to its extended position of FIGURE 1. Piston rod 45 in moving to its extended position moves links 4l), 42 to move the presser head arms 32, 33 about their respective pivot 31 to position the presser heads in the pressing position such as shown in solid lines in FIGURE l..

At this time, at an elevation above the resilient pads, a metal surface of the movable presser head, for example, 22e, bears against the one surface of the fabric forming one side 75a of a pants leg while the opposite surface of said side 75a bears against the wing S4; and the opposite surface of the wing bears against the one surface of the fabric that forms the opposite side 75h of the same leg while the metal surface of the movable presser head 36e bears against the opposite surface of the fabric side 75b. Thus in the area of the wings and at an elevation above the resilient pads, there would be metal to metal contact other than for a layer of fabric being located on either side of the wing between the movable presser head and the sationary head.

The partial circular portions 2te, 22C, 35e and 36C are each of a radius of curvature only slightly greater than the general radius of curvature of the padding of the respective buck assembly. However, since the creases of each pant leg is adjacent the opposed, generally vertically extending edges of wings 53, 54, the portion of the pant leg pressed against the padding is horizontally centrally located relative to and between the creases. In this connection, the relationship of the padding relative the stationary presser head as viewed along line 2 2 of FIG- URE l is indicated in FIGURE 2 wherein dimension line P represents the outer diameter of the padding and shows the spacing of the padding along said line relative pads 68, 69.

With tubular garments that have cuffs, there is a plurality of layers of fabric between each surface of a wing and the respective pressing surface of the movable head and the adjacent pressing surface of the stationary pressing head. For example as shown in FIGURE 6, the pant leg side 75a has a cuff portion 75d at its lower end and the side 7511 of the same pant leg has a cuff portion 75e at its lower end. Thus, in a pressing condition the outer Surface of cuff portion 75d would abut against pads 68, 69 and the metal surfaces of presser head 22 horizontally between said pads while part of the inner surface would bear against the one surface of wings 53, 54 and padding 52. Cuff portion '75e has its outer surface abutting against the pressing surface 36a through 36e of presser head 36 while parts of cuff portion 75e inner surface respectively bear against the opposite surface of said wings and padding 52.

In order to obtain a proper press in the cuff area while also providing a sharp crease in the pant legs above the cuffs, there is provided the previously described resilient pads. That is, due to the provision of the protrusions, in the pressing condition, each resilient pad is deformed sufficiently (exaggerated showing in FIGURE 6) that adjacent pressing surface portions of the presser heads may be relatively moved sufficiently c-lose to one another that a sharp crease is formed in the pant legs above the cuffs without overly pressing the cuffs. With reference to the deformation of the wing as shown in FIGURE 6, it is to be mentioned that the wings are relatively thin and thus can be deformed in a vertical ldirection due to the wings being resiliently held in tension in their direction of elongation through structure not shown in this application but described in our`co-pending application.

As to the horizontally centra-l portions of the cuffs which are horizontally intermediate the creases of the pant leg, and respectively abut against padding 52 and the partial circular pressing surfaces of the presser heads, the padding provides the necessary yieldability (give) so that the planar pressing surfaces of the respective presser head may be relatively moved suliciently close to one another to provide the sharp crease mentioned in the preceding paragraph. For example, the central portion of the cuff of pant leg portion '75a is horizontally between surface portion 22e and padding 52 while the corresponding cui portion of leg portion h is between surface 36C and padding 52. As to the portions of the cuff horizontally between that contacted by planar pressing surfaces 36a, 22a and padding 52; and horizontally between the post padding and pressing surfaces 22e and 36e, these portions of the cu are located in the areas that the movable presser heads and stationary presser heads are more remotely spaced from one another, and thus there is no problem arising due to the fact that cuffs have multiple layers.

To be mentioned is that each pad has suicient resistance to deformation that in the event pant legs that do not have cuffs are pressed with the apparatus of this invention, relatively sharp creases will also be formed in the lower end portions of the pant legs.

A feature of this invention is that Ifor each resilient pad, a metal portion of the presser head 15 extends in a downwardly direction to be horizontally interposed between the fabri-c being pressed and the upwardly inclined flange of the pad. As a result, any foreign material collecting on the metal surface of the presser head vertically above the pad and subsequently moving in a downward direction moves onto the pad pressing surface without being forced between the adjacent surfaces of, for example, pad flange 69e and the recess surface 63a. If the surfaces 63a, 69e were inclined in an opposite direction, i.e., inclined downwardly and transversely inwardly toward the longitudinal axis L-L then foreign material would be gradually forced between the abutting surfaces 63a, 69C and loosen the pad from the presser head. Thus, in order to obtain long usage without the pads separating from the presser head, the abutting surfaces of presser head 15 and the respective pad, at the upper edge of the pad, are sloped upward-ly and away from the adjacent pressing surfaces such as shown in FIGURE 6 for pad 69.

What we claim is:

1. In a garment pressing machine for pressing a tubular portion of a garment including a buck assembly for having the tubular portion dressed thereon, said tubular portion having a lower end portion that has a greater number of layers of fabric than said tubular portion has at an elevation above said lower end portion, pressing apparatus comprising a pair of coacting presser heads each having walls to pressingly engage the tubular portion when the buck assembly is therebetween and means for connecting the presser heads to selectively move the presser heads relative one another between a Iposition to pressingly engage the tubular portion on the buck assembly between said presser heads and a position more assale? remotely spaced from said buck assembly, one of said presser head walls having a recessed portion, a metal Wall portion, and a resilient pad mounted in said recessed portion, said resilient pad in a relaxed condition and said metal wall portion conjunctively having a generally smooth continuous pressing surface to pressingly engage said tubular portion, said pad being located to pressingly engage said lower end portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that at least said one presser head wall and said buck assembly are vertically elongated, that said recessed portion has a generally vertically extending surface and an inclined surface that intersects said one presser head pressing surface and extends away from the last mentioned pressing surface in an upward direction, and that said resilient pad has an upwardly inclined surface in abutting relationship with said recessed portion inclined surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that said resilient pad includes a wall forming a part of said continuous pressing surface and a plurality of spaced protrusions joined to said pad wall and extending into abutting relationship with said recessed portion vertical surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that said pad is made of rubber and that the other presser head wall has a pressing surface and throughout the area of its pressing surface is of metal.

5. In a garment pressing machine bar for pressing tubular portions of garments such as pants including a pair of generally vertically extending buck assemblies for having the pants dressed thereon and respectively extended into one tubular portion of the garment, each buck assembly having a generally circular, vertically extending post, padding around said post and a pair of wings diametrically disposed relative the post and horizontally spaced from the post when the resepctive garment tubular portion is being pressed, each tubular portion having a lower end portion, presser head apparatus comprising a frame, a stationary, vertically elongated presser head mounted on said frame, said stationary presser head having a longitudinal axis and oppositely disposed pressing surfaces located on opposite transverse sides of said axis, a pair of movable presser heads each having a pressing surface, means for mounting one movable presser head on each side of the stationary presser head with each movable presser head surface generally facing the adjacent stationary presser head surface and moving said movable presser heads from a position substantially spaced from the respective stationary presser head surfaces to a position that adjacent presse-r head surfaces pressingly engage the respective tubular portion on the buck assembly respectively located between each movable presser head and the stationary presser head, one movable presser head together with the one side of the stationary presser head and the other movable presser head together with the other side of the stationary presser head in a pressing condition respectively having Walls providing the aforementioned facing pressing surfaces on opposite sides of the respective buck assembly, said walls having first portions with generally planar pressing surface portions on opposite sides of one wing of one buck assembly, second portions with generally planar pressing surface portions on opposite sides of the other wing of said one -buck assembly and extending in substantially the same planes as the respective iirst portions, and arcuately curved portions that join the respective first and second portions and respectively extend around opposite diameter circular portions of the post to provide pressing surface portions, said arcuately curved portions having central portions of radii of curvature to -form a close fit with substantial arcuate portions of the padding when there is no tubular portions therebetween, said stationary presser head in horizontal cross section ybeing of a generally triangular shape other than for its arcuately curved portions being of a configuration to in a longitudinal direction first curved inwardly toward one another and thence outwardly from one another.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized in that each of the stationary presser head planar portions is vertically elongated and has a lower end portion made of rubber and the remainder made of metal.

7. In a garment pressing machine for pressing tubular portions of garments such as pants including a pair of vertically extending buck assemblies for having the pants dressed thereon and respectively extended into one tubular portion of the garment, each buck assembly having a generally circular, vertically extending post, padding around said post and a pair of wings diametrically disposed relative the post and horizontally spaced from the post when the respective garment tubular portion is lbeing pressed, each tubular portion having a lower culi, presser head apparatus comprising a frame, a stationary, vertically elongated presser head mounted on said frame, said stationary presser head having a longitudinal axis and oppositely disposed pressing surfaces located on opposite transverse side of said axis, a pair of movable presser heads each having a pressing surface, means for mounting one movable presser head on either side of the stationary presser head with each movable presser head surface generally facing the adjacent stationary presser head surface and moving said movable presser heads from a position substantially spaced from the stationary presser head pressing surfaces to a position that adjacent presser head surfaces pressingly engage the respective tubular portion on the buch assembly respectively located between each movable presser head and the stationary presser head, one movable presser head and the one side of the stationary presser head each having walls providing the respective aforementioned facing pressing surfaces on opposite sides of one buck assembly, said walls having first metal portions providing generally planar vertically elongated pressing surface portions on opposite sides of one wing of said one buck assembly, second metal portions having generally planar pressing surface portions on opposite sides of the other wing of said one buck assembly and extending in substantially the same plane as the respective first portion, and arcuately curved central portions that join the respective first and second portions and respectively extend around opposite diametric circular portions of the post, the lower end of the first portion and adjacent portion of the arcuate portion of one of said walls having a first recessed portion, the lower end of the second portion and adjacent portion of the arcuate portion of said one wall having a second recessed portion horizontally spaced from the rst recessed portion, a rst resilient pad mounted on the first recessed portion and a second resilient pad mounted on the second recessed portion, each of said pads being mounted to abuttingly engage the horizontally adjacent portion of the cuff and in a relaxed condition having a pressing surface to form a smooth continuation of the pressing surface portion of the metal wall portion thereabove.

3. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that each recessed portion has a generally vertically extending planar surface and an inclined surface that is inclined upwardly and generally transversely outwardly of the respective pad pressing surface, and that each pad has an inclined surface in abutting engagement with the recessed portion inclined surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that each pad has a wall having the pad pressing surface and a plurality of spaced protrusions joined to said pad wall and abuttingly engaging the respective recessed portion vertically extending planar surface.

10. fl`he apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that the stationary presser head has said recessed portions.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further characterized in that the other side of said stationary presser head has a wall providing horizontally spaced, generally vertically elongated portions providing generally planar pressing surface portions, the last mentioned elongated portions at their lower ends each having a recessed portion, and that a resilient pad is mounted on each of the last mentioned recessed portions and in a relaxed condition has a pressing surface forming a smooth continuation of the generally planar pressing surface portion thereabove.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further characterized 10 in that each pad is made of rubber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 7,166 6/1876 Braun 223-73 2,529,899 11/1950 Bayler 38-21 2,669,374 2/1954 Jones 223-57 3,208,652 9/1965 Zimmermann 223-73 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Examiner. 

